Most of my rides these days are day rides, and I haven't done a report in a long time; don't even take the camera with me most of the time anymore. But today, Bonnie Abbzug and I decided to get a quick ride in before the afternoon monsoons move in.

We slabbed out of town up Poncha Pass to a little road that Bonnie had never been on; thought I'd show her someplace new.

After too many miles on the pavement, we turned off at an obscure barbed wire gate, and finally onto some dirt.

Before long, we were turning west into the mountains. The clouds continued to build and it was getting quite dark. You could tell that it has been raining heavily up here lately, but not much mud yet- only takes a few hours for these hills to dry out.

This whole loop is really easy... except for this one little downhill. Bonnie started down it already freaked out (I shouldn't have told her about it. ) At the first tight turn she was sliding down the road half out of control. When she got the bike stopped, she was really freaked out. "I have NO traction with this rear tire!". "No problem; the hill isn't that long, I'll ride it down for you."

She's right- that T63 rear didn't hook up at all.

It is a really steep loose hill though. Me walking back up to my bike after riding hers down:

Your fuel tank looks like it is having an allergic reaction to a bee sting!!! Awesome pictures, love the motion ones with the blurry sides (that's technical jargon, I'm a pro).

We'll be in your town for another long weekend 8/12-15; hope to run into you. We'll stop by the shop...

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That tank is ridiculous! This was only the second time I've ridden with it on the bike; I'm dreaming of a longer trip with the 525 and figured I'd better make sure everything works ok. Takes about 15 min. to swap tanks, so I'll probably be doing it often.

I may actually be out riding that weekend, but stop by the shop if you are in town and see if I'm there!